Blog Layout

CCA on Senate Commerce Committee Markup Cancellation

June 18, 2024

Washington, D.C. – Competitive Carriers Association President and CEO Tim Donovan made the following statement:

“While today’s planned Senate Commerce Committee markup has been cancelled, work to find consensus to advance federal spectrum policies must continue. Each day that passes without federal spectrum auction authority jeopardizes America’s wireless leadership, and our industry requires additional full power, licensed mid-band spectrum to meet consumers’ demands today and into the future.


If comprehensive spectrum legislation cannot fund important and immediate priorities in the near term, Congress must pursue other opportunities to do so. Only Congress can provide the funding needed to fulfill the national security mandate to “Rip and Replace” untrusted communications equipment from domestic networks. The situation is dire. As program participants have reached or surpassed their pro-rated funding allocations, many Rip and Replace participants, especially in Western states, are deciding where to remove equipment but not replace it, eliminating service to local subscribers and consumers that roam onto their networks. Lack of funding also means some carriers will go out of business altogether. The result will be catastrophic for American connectivity.


As CCA has previously highlighted, service reductions are likely to result in reduced coverage by over 31,00 square miles in Arizona, 26,000 square miles in Nevada, 19,000 square miles in New Mexico, and 13,766 square miles in Colorado, and over 70,000 additional square miles in the Rocky Mountains region, among other service reductions likely without full funding. Similar reductions are likely in Nebraska, Montana, and Tennessee. For much of these areas, no other carrier provides service, including for 9-1-1 and emergency services and coverage for key military and national security installations. Time is of the essence to prevent these massive reductions in connectivity.


CCA urges Congress to pass legislation fully funding the Rip and Replace program without further hesitation.”


###


About Competitive Carriers Association

Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive wireless providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions of customers, as well as vendors and suppliers that provide products and services throughout the wireless communications ecosystem.

Share by: